Read More

Things to do in Croydon

It was first unveiled by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip at Heathrow Airport in 1969, and depicts Croydon Airport, marking it’s critical role in the aviation industry.

Mr Kempster studied at Wimbledon School of Art and went onto become one of the seminal decorative artists of the 1950s, 60s and 70s.

The work was commissioned by the British Airports Authority to commemorate the opening of Terminal 1 at Heathrow in 1969.

“The History of Aviation” by William Kempster is on display in Croydon

The work consists of three large panels and charts the beginnings of international air travel that took off after World War One, depicting Britain’s first major airport at Croydon and the celebrity pioneer pilots of the age.

The mural includes Croydon Airport’s iconic air traffic control tower on which many airport control towers across the globe were modelled.